Brees says Saints are “hoping for the best”

Posted by Mike Florio on March 31, 2012, 11:18 AM EST

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Saints quarterback Drew Brees addressed the team’s bounty scandal with reporters on Friday. (The folks at WDSU grossly oversell the event as Brees “breaking his silence” on the subject; the truth, however, is that he has written an open letter on the subject and addressed it during several radio interviews in conjunction with one of his paid endorsements.)

“The entire team loves our coach,” Brees told reporters at an event in New Orleans on Friday. “We’d do anything for him and certainly are with him during this time. Just understanding how difficult it is and we’re all trying to get through it. We’re hoping for the best.”

But what really is “the best” in a situation like this? Reduced punishment for Sean Payton, the head coach whose team, according to the NFL, brazenly continued to use bounties for two years after the NFL investigated the situation? Or would it be an eventual decision by the league that the bounties never happened?

Given Brees’ position on the NFLPA Executive Committee, he’s necessarily conflicted. He owes it to players from every team to ensure that players aren’t involved in a cash-for-cripplings scheme, even if those players play on his own team — and even if those activities were permitted and/or organized by his own team’s coaches.

“It’s really tough, because we’re all a family,” Brees said. “To have some of the things said about us as a team and our coach and our accomplishment, those things hurt.”

We haven’t chronicled everything that has been said about their team and their coach and their accomplishment, but the facts as determined by the NFL make it fair game for folks to criticize the team for using bounties and the head coach for not stopping it and/or covering it up and the accomplishment as being tainted by the deliberate targeting of Brett Favre for injury in the 2009 NFC title game.

None of this has caused Brees to sour on the Saints. Though currently unsigned and subject to the exclusive version of the franchise tag, Brees reiterated that he fully intends to stay with the Saints.

The real question is whether the two sides can work out a new deal by the time the Saints start offseason workouts, presumably with someone other than Payton running the show.

I agree with Brees when he says the players would do anything for their coach, it was the reason they are suspended. I hear that Payton is a good guy but I think he is arrogant and shows no remorse for his actions. I understand his appeal and his arrogants is showing up again.

nukaten: how is the team leader who is also on the nflpa’s advisory board for player safety, a good dude when he let his teammates take money under the table???? then expects us to believe he did not know ????? during the lock out, all i heard about was brees doing this and organizing that. he ran that team…. if he gets credit for that then he has to admit he knew about the extra money. but he cant admit that because he fights hard for player safety. kind of a double standard isn’t it. but wait, this is the guy who said during the lock out that the franchise tag was ok for everybody but him. he wanted to be excluded from it, nice teammate you all have there.

But Brees should stop trying to make the world believe that he had zero knowledge of what was going on in that locker room.
There’s no way that you could be in a locker room, on a plane, in a sauna, at meals or in training camp with the same group of guys without knowing what’s going on in your teammate’s lives, both on and off the field.

Either he’s alone on his one man island and never spoke to ANYONE else in that clubhouse or he’s the dumbest son of a gun who has ever snapped the ball from center and never saw what was happening around him.

We haven’t chronicled everything that has been said about their team and their coach and their accomplishment, but the facts as determined by the NFL make it fair game for folks to criticize the team for using bounties and the head coach for not stopping it and/or covering it up and the accomplishment as being tainted by the deliberate targeting of Brett Favre for injury in the 2009 NFC title game.
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You’re right. You’ve only chronicled the negative aspects.

You might as well call this VikingsFootballTalk because your man crush is blatant.

I can’t believe that Brees and the rest can’t see the writing on the wall here. All of this complaining just makes it look like they don’t see anything wrong with the bounties. Whether they do or not they should at least be able to see the hard line Goodell is taking and just suck it up for a year. I think they’re just making it worse on themselves.

As a side note regarding Brees, I can’t believe the Saints have taken this long to re-sign him. If they would take a moment to look at what a sorry franchise they were BEFORE Brees joined them, I think it becomes obvious how important he is.

Condon’s got to be drooling over the additional leverage he now has to have, especially if Parcells can’t fill in and one of their assistants has to pull double duty.

Nothing, not ONE thing changes the fact that their ring is legit and Payton is a great offensive mind and a very good HC. They did wrong, they got punished. But those things don’t change.

My one friend always says “it’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission”. And really that’s the attitude of a LOT of very accomplished people. Push the envelope until you can’t anymore. Again, NOT saying the Saints were RIGHT in what they did…just that what they did isn’t THAT surprising. Payton is a maverick, mavericks do stuff like that. The Broncos pushed the envelope too and got caught (salary cap violations). Thin they would do any different in hindsight being that they got 2 rings? I bet not. The Dolphins illegally hired Shula and had to give up a 1st round draft pick to the Colts for tampering. Think THEY regret that? I bet not. Al Davis pushed the envelope for good (hiring minorities) and bad (being too stubborn to bring his business practices up to modern standards). Think Raiders fans aren’t happy they got SBs out of his tenure? I bet not.

I’m so sick of this cookie cutter bs. Can some of these “grown men” talk and act like grown men. Theres something to be said for being politically correct and not throwing anyone under the bus but come on. You’re on the NFLPA Executive committee. Say something or don’t sign up!

Also forgot to add…this is an intrinsic quality that helps make a guy what he is. If you want the Payton who has the stones to onside kick in the SB…you get the Payton who will push aside certain things that he feels can be hidden. Stones are stones are stones. They can be both a part of downfall and a part of greatness.

It is more than a small contingent of fans who don’t like Goodell taking the physicality out of the game. Case in point, the two teams just voted best ever on NFL.com were the 1976 Raiders and 2000 Ravens. Under the 2012 rules, half of both defenses would have been suspended and fined. Pretty hypocritical of Roger to be promoting one style of play on NFL.com and legislating another. It’s pretty obvious that most fans and current players want the violence to remain in the game and the past players are out for a money grab. Instead of handicapping and penalizing the current NFL, why not just get every player to sign a waiver when they enter the league saying they know the risk and won’t sue down the road. Seems like that would keep the fans and players happy, and it would be the best way ‘to protect the shield’.

I just have to repost what another reader said on another story here on this site.
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lutz977 says: Mar 27, 2012 9:06 AM

The thing that will make the league look best, is the public perception that the Saints were operating a rouge problem team.

The last thing Goodell needs is for the general football fan to think this problem was rampant throughout all 32 teams.

From a PR perspective, Goodell must want this to ‘go away’, so he will likely ‘let sleeping dogs lie’, and not investigate all of the other teams – unless his hand is forced by widespread media reports of specific other incidences.

He made an example out of the Saints by coming down hard with punishment, and (in his mind) that should be enough of a warning to make all of the other teams not even consider using a bounty moving forward.

He owes it to players from every team to ensure that players aren’t involved in a cash-for-cripplings scheme, even if those players play on his own team — and even if those activities were permitted and/or organized by his own team’s coaches.
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Who in the bleep was crippled? You’re journalistic rigor leaves much to be desired. You can’t just go around interchanging performance with bounty and even furthermore with crippling. It’s dishonest.

The only people I recall getting the legs fractured were Reggie Bush (against SF) and Sean Payton (against TB). Where is the investigation for those bounties?

brees knew every thing that went on on their team. also a big shot in the players union and also one of the guys who said the nfl is responsible for the concussions. the dude is a pathetic lier. hate to see any1 hurt but i hope he breaks his throwing arm on the first play of the season and never plays again. maybe some1 has a bounty on him

Everytime a saints player talks it sounds or looks disingenuous. I still find it hard to believe that the best leader of a team and a city knew nothing. Imagine if he gets suspended. It is clear the nfl has SUBSTANTIAL proof because they fined the coach over 5,000,000 dollars. Imagine what they have and on who!

It amazes me how the AINTS fans seem to think its no big deal. You totally got out played in every aspect of the game, and now to get caught cheating in the same game, not to mention your coach is friends with a gambling criminal, who knows who else was paid off. Yet you all think you deserved the Championship. It’s hilarious. Call me a crying fan or whatever you want. EVERYONE knows the Vikings belonged in the Superbowl, not the CHEATING AINTS !!

I’ve lost a lot of respect for Brees during all of this. I understand he is supportive of his coach but don’t act like what Payton and Williams did wasn’t deserving of a stiff punishment. Quit crying about this whoa is me attitude. Instead start talking about how you plan on stepping up to lead and continue to make your team better.

Just once I’d love to see someone from the organization say something like, “This is going to be tough for all of us, but we did something that we never should have done and now we have to pay the price.” Personally, I a so tired of hearing “poor Sean” or “We’d do anything for our coach(es)”. That’s part of the problem. They did do anything, and some of it was simply wrong. As for “poor Sean”, he was either neck deep in all of this, or he utterly failed in his oversight duties as HC. Whether he was initially responsible for the Bounty program or not, he lied to the league office and engaged in a coverup over a period of years so that the team could continue to flaunt league rules and risk the careers and safety of other teams’ players. Oh, and let’s not forget the extreme stupidity shown by all those involved in this case. Two years prior to being busted for the Bounty program the league warned them that they were being investigated. So, did they figure they took things as far as they could and shut things down? No, they apparently thought they could continue to do what they did with the league actively investigating them, and that they’d never have to pay a price for it.

I used to like Brees but no longer do. First I read that he isn’t signing a contract because he thinks he deserves to get paid millions more than Brady does. If anything Brady (and Manning) should make more than he does. Now he has the nerve to imply that we should feel badly for Payton and the others who have been suspended. I don’t really care for Goodell but he did the right thing with these punishments as you can’t much worse than intentionally hurting someone and getting rewarded for it. Brees needs to take responsibility for his team’s actions and tell the public that the punishment is fair. If he really thinks that Payton is such a great guy, his standards must be very low. The only thing that would make me root harder against the Saints is if Parcells is the coach next year. I really can’t stand that guy.

Some of you are just hilarious to me, “the Saints Super Bowl is Tainted” and such. Just looking for any excuse as to why your team didn’t win that year or at all in some cases. Go down the list of NFL Teams and no one has the right to throw any stones, your team knowingly employs accused rapists (Pittsburg), murderers (Baltimore), drug dealers (All of them) and woman beaters (All of them). Please lets not forget the “love boat” incident minnesota. That is ok though cause they are really nice guys who got caught up in the wrong situation. Thats just off the field, on it Washington gave 100 mil to a guy who tried to stomp another players head in. Detroit didnt’ even impose punishment on Suh for the same thing. Hines Ward is one of the dirtiest players in the league along with Harrison and the Pitt fans love them for their hits. And truthfully I don’t have any problem with that, I love the Saints for all their faults but come on with your hypocritical BS. Look at your rosters rap sheet before throwing stones.

P.S. Vikings fans, really, three years later your still crying and whining. You lost on the field with 5 turnovers, no bounty made you do it just like we lost this year with 5 turnovers, doesn’t mean the niners cheated and I absolutely hate them from the NFC West days.

It amazes me how the AINTS fans seem to think its no big deal. You totally got out played in every aspect of the game, and now to get caught cheating in the same game, not to mention your coach is friends with a gambling criminal, who knows who else was paid off. Yet you all think you deserved the Championship. It’s hilarious. Call me a crying fan or whatever you want. EVERYONE knows the Vikings belonged in the Superbowl, not the CHEATING AINTS !!
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If the Vikings belonged in the Super Bowl, why did they only score 28 points as compared to the 31 points scored by the Saints? Also, if my memory serves me correctly, there were these guys in black and white shirts standing out on the field during that game. I believe it was their responsbility to throw yellow flags when they identified someone “cheating” as you put it. It wasn’t the “cheating” that caused the Vikings to lose, how about working on those 5 turnovers, avoiding throwing passes back across the middle of the field, and learning how many men belong in a huddle. Stop whining, deal with loss, and move along now. Next!

Think of it this way, they snicked the Redskins and Cowboys for messing with the competitive balance. By doing this, they’re definitely messing with the “competitive balance.” The NFL makes no sense, everything is so communist.

I mean, the teams that didn’t try to take every competitive advantage are the one’s that messed with the competitive balance. Because they didn’t take every step to make sure they’re team is successful, and if the NFL had a problem with that they should have atleast warned the teams when it was happening, not approving every contract with a smile.

But, those are words for another day. Anyway, a year suspension for a head coach doesn’t help the league at all. This is why the government is always messing with the NFL because they don’t know how to handle their business in the right and fair way.

The Saint’s and Vikings should have been hit also, there’s no reason they should have gotten lose without charges. But, I’m ranting, I guess. I’m not even a huge Saint fan, I just want to see the league portrayed and commanded in a fair manner.

Also, one person can’t control everything that a large group of players do, that’s humanly impossible. They should have at most suspended him for half the year, or atleast until after the draft. Yeah, Goodell… you make really sense.

With former players suing the league left and right over concussions, it’s difficult to see how the NFL could in any way lessen the Saint’s penalty – that would like saying what they did was okay, or wasn’t that serious.

If anything, when Payton meets with the commissioner again to whine about his penalty … the commish really should do the right thing – and double it.

Bounties with cash payments over 3 years to injure opposing players?

If you can’t do the time … don’t do the crime.

No sympathy here. The sooner they stop looking ridiculous and pathetic by whining about their penalties – the better.

Grown men, who play a violent game, who are paid millions of dollars, would risk a major fine, suspension from the game and professional scorn for chump change. Really, we are supposed to believe this?

You are equating the Love Boat scandal to the bounty program? Really? lol

And I don’t know if all 5 tunrovers were the result of the bounty program, but the last one that lead to the win, the last one sure was. Favre’s INT was directly the result of roughing him up due to the bounty program. Not only was he physically roughed up, but it effected his decision making whether to run the ball or trow it. And when he threw it, he was so beat up from all the illegal hits that resulted in two sprained nearly broken ankles. that the same zip was not on the ball.

So there you go, direct results from the illegal bounty program that led to their Super Bowl win*.

You are equating the Love Boat scandal to the bounty program? Really? lol

And I don’t know if all 5 tunrovers were the result of the bounty program, but the last one that lead to the win sure was. Favre’s INT was directly the result of roughing him up due to the bounty program. Not only was he physically roughed up, but it effected his decision making whether to run the ball or trow it. And when he threw it, he was so beat up from all the illegal hits that resulted in two sprained nearly broken ankles. that the same zip was not on the ball.

So there you go, direct results from the illegal bounty program that led to their Super Bowl win*.

You said a mouthful Mike. How about you and your reporter friends spend less time obsessing about the evil Saints and rehashing the NFL’s canned press releases and statements, and more time actually reporting on what EVIDENCE exists or does not exist for what the league says they “determined.” Is every reporter afraid that if they ask (or demand) the league back up their conclusions with evidence of their investigation involving the Saints and the OTHER 31 TEAMS that no doubt also have had bounties, that the league will disinvite them to the next all-you-can-eat-and-drink-for-free buffet at the Super Bowl? Remember, this is the same full-of-it league that you have criticized many times for their phony stand on the Cowboys/Redskins cap fiasco. Why do you believe everything they are spoon feeding the press on “Bountygate”?

Brees < the majority of the rest of the team and their coaches/GM that are classless dirtbags, it would be in his best interest to just move on in his career, they got a championship out of him but that will forever be tainted. The most horrible part of it all besides for all the players that think their punishments are too harsh is the fact that if any of us were to do this at our job we would be unemployed and going to jail. Its the multi-million dollars that they make not enough of an incentive to do their best to win? If I were one of the players that had a bounty put on me and then one of these d-bags got picked up or traded to my team I would knock him out of the game in the locker room for free. Who dat now goes by boo dat

Not a Saints or Vikings fan but that NFC Championship game was by far the worst officiated NFL game that i have ever seen in my 40 years of watching football. As far as the Saints personnel being punished…..their are things called honesty, integrity, respect, and character, which none of them have, thats why they are being suspended. I don’t care for Goddell much either….but he did the right thing with this case.

I’m not equating anything to anything. I’m simply saying its football. Stop believing the media hype. Just because the “NFL Investigation” alleges what took place. No evidence has been released. No player or coach has admitted to any pay to injure system. The NFL is awesome at accidentally leaking info when it’s to their benefit so why no emails, no anonymous players coming out. I believe their was a bounty system and I’m ok with the punishment. But every team has their own secrets. When billions of dollars are at stake, people do what the have to do. If you dont think so your naive or just stupid. What’s the difference between a 1k payment and a TV as the lions have now admitted. As for the last interception, your right the bounties obviously caused that, it’s not like Farve ever did anything like make stupid passes with the game on the line.

Are you kidding me? No evidence? I don’t know what rock you have been living under, but not only has Velma admitted to the $10,000 bounty on Favre, but the Owner, the head coach, and the defensive coordinate all publicly admitted to the cheating and has apologized.

btw, Favre only had 7 interceptions that season and was absolutely tearing up the Saint’s defense that game. Both INTs were due to the Saint’s illegal activity. The NFL already admitted that a flag should have been thrown on Favre’s first interception that that would have reversed it, and if he wasn’t so injured from the illegal hits he probably runs instead of throwing that last INT.

geauxsaintsforever says:It wasn’t the “cheating” that caused the Vikings to lose, how about working on those 5 turnovers, avoiding throwing passes back across the middle of the field, and learning how many men belong in a huddle. Stop whining, deal with loss, and move along now. Next!
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Right,,,even with the CHEATING, horrible Big Sleazy bought refs, 5 turnovers and home field advantage,,,,,we still should have WON! We kicked your candy ass team all over the field. We dominated,,,eat it tainted Lombardi Trophy

Many people like to accuse us here in LA of being illiterate and backwards, but please go back and read what I said. I believe there was a bounty program, which is illegal. What I want evidence of is the payments for injury aspect. I also said Im ok with the punishment. And If evidence is provided that the program did pay for injuries I will consider the Saints lucky they got off easy. But if you read the statements you refer to, no where do they say we wanted to inflict injuries. Detroit has admitted to bounties, do you think we are the only two teams. Get real. I like to think for myself, which may be a foreign concept to you. I just don’t take what fox news or espn say is the truth. If you have a link to any evidence or any admission by Saints personnel admitting they intended to injure anyone please provide and I will apologize on this board.

Also other than your punter (really) and center I haven’t heard many players come out and complain other than to say that it’s football. Even Farve said it. Then he proceeded to throw late across the middle again because of the bounty huts from three years ago and Tracy Porter picked him again.

Because the aints got caught. I understand the loyalty from the aints fans, I really do. But atleast own up to your teams misconduct. Some of the coments I see makes me laugh. I almost feel sorry for you all but I think everyone is sick of the whole ” poor me, boo hoo, we are always the victims . It’s us against the work. Shut up!

He’s a member of the NFLPA Executive Committee supposed to look out for the welfare of players and says nothing? for two years? Doesn’t show enough responsibility as a leader to tell his team mates to just play the game hard and drop the bounty garbage? Some leader. Some “role model”, he’s a puke like the rest of that lot.